Vehicle exterior door handle with lighting module

ABSTRACT

A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a handle portion movable to open a vehicle door and an illumination module having an illumination source and a light guide that extends at least partially along the length of the handle portion. When the exterior door handle assembly is normally mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door and when the illumination source is powered, the light guide is illuminated and the illumination is viewable by a person viewing the handle portion from outside the vehicle. The exterior door handle assembly may include an emblem or icon that is back lit by light emitted by a back-lighting illumination source of the exterior door handle assembly. The emblem or icon is visible to the person viewing from outside the vehicle when back lit by light emitted by the back-lighting illumination source but is covert when not back lit by such emitted light.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/722,148, filed Oct. 2, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,351,052,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/463,295,filed Mar. 20, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,776,556, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/822,185, filed Aug.10, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,598,003, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/716,771, filed Dec. 17, 2012, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,102,266, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/596,891, filed Oct. 21, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,333,492,which is a 371 application of PCT Application No. PCT/US08/062347, filedMay 2, 2008, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional applications,Ser. No. 61/025,048, filed Jan. 31, 2008, and Ser. No. 60/915,722, filedMay 3, 2007, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to door handles for vehicles and, moreparticularly, to an exterior door handle for opening a side door of avehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A door handle for a vehicle door typically includes a handle portionthat is pivotable relative to a base portion, whereby pivotal movementof the handle portion pulls at a cable or rod to electrically trigger ormove a latch mechanism to release the latch and open the door. It isknown to provide illumination or light sources at the side of thevehicle, such as to provide security lighting or convenience lighting atthe side of the vehicle. For example, such lighting devices aredescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,349,450; 6,550,103; 5,371,659; 5,669,699;5,823,654 and 5,497,305, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. Typically, such lighting devices provideillumination along the side of the vehicle and down to the ground at theside of the vehicle. Such illumination thus may have glare or brightspots at the side of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an illumination module or device for avehicle, such as for an exterior door handle assembly, for providinglight at the door handle pocket and at the ground at the side of thevehicle. Optionally, an interior door handle assembly may include anillumination module or device for providing light at the interior doorhandle pocket and/or at the interior of the vehicle in accordance withthe present invention. Optionally, the illumination module may include aback lit icon or mask such that illumination emitted or projected by theillumination module toward a targeted area or surface may be in the formof the icon or mask as defined by lighter and darker regions of theprojected or emitted or directed illumination at the targeted area orsurface. Such an illumination module may be packaged in or incorporatedinto a door handle assembly or an exterior rearview mirror assembly oran interior rearview mirror assembly or the like, depending on theparticular application and targeted area for illumination.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a door handle assemblyfor a door of a vehicle includes a base portion mountable to the vehicledoor and a handle portion that is movably or pivotally mountable to thevehicle door. The door may define a pocket or recessed portion at itsexterior side and generally at the door handle to provide clearance fora person to grasp the handle portion at the vehicle door for opening thedoor of the vehicle. The door handle assembly includes an illuminationmodule that is operable (such as in response to actuation of a remotekeyless entry device or a passive entry device or other activatingevent, such as a user inserting a key into a keyhole at the door or doorhandle or the like) to provide illumination generally downward andtoward and to the ground at the side of the vehicle and generally at thedoor handle area and to provide illumination at the pocket at thevehicle door, so as to provide enhanced illumination at the vehicle doorand door handle.

Optionally, the door handle assembly may include a light bar or stripdisposed along an outer surface or region of the door handle portion toprovide illumination along the door handle, if desired. Optionally,aspects of the present invention may be suitable for use with aninterior door handle assembly disposed at an interior portion of avehicle door, such as discussed below.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an illuminationmodule includes an illumination source that backlights an iconisticelement or optic, whereby a shadow or image of the icon or indicia ofthe iconistic element is projected or shown at a targeted region, suchas at the ground adjacent to or proximate to the side of the vehicle. Inone form, the illumination module may be disposed at a door handle of aside door of the vehicle. In another form, the illumination module maybe disposed at an exterior rearview mirror at a side of the vehicle. Inanother form, the illumination module may be disposed at an interiorrearview mirror of the vehicle, with the targeted region being at thewindshield or dashboard of the vehicle or other interior location withinthe cabin of the vehicle.

Therefore, the present invention provides an illumination module for adoor handle that is packaged at the small, substantially restricted areaof the door handle of a vehicle. The illumination module includes opticsand/or apertures and/or light blockers or guides that spread or diffuseand/or direct the emitted light to provide substantially even or uniformlighting so as to limit hot spots or bright spots or glare at thevehicle door or at the ground. The location of the illumination moduleis preferably selected so that a person's hand does not cover theillumination module when the person is grasping the door handle to openthe door, such that illumination is maintained even when a person's handis in the pocket region of the door and handle assembly. The location ofthe illumination module is also preferably selected so that the groundillumination port or portion of the module is substantially close to thevehicle door sheet metal so as to limit or substantially avoid hot spotsor bright spots or glare at the vehicle door, while substantiallyuniform or even ground illumination and pocket illumination may beprovided or enhanced via an optical elements, apertures, light guides orlenses or the like of the illumination module.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle with a door handle assembly inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a door handle assembly of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the door handle assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an illumination module of the doorhandle assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another door handle assembly of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the door handle assembly of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another illumination module of the doorhandle assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another door handle assembly inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an interior door handle assembly inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of another exterior door handleassembly having an illumination module in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the illumination module of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the illumination module ofFIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of an exterior rearview mirror assemblyhaving an illumination module in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the mirror assembly andillumination module of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a rear plan view of the mirror assembly of FIG. 13, with thereflective element removed to show additional details;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the illumination module of the mirrorassembly of FIGS. 13-15;

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the illumination module ofFIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of a vehicle having a cornering light at anexterior rearview mirror assembly in accordance with the presentinvention; and

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of a cornering light of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, a vehicle door handle assembly 10 is mountable to a door 12 aof a vehicle 12 and operable to release a latch mechanism (not shown) ofthe door 12 a to open the vehicle door (FIG. 1). Vehicle door handleassembly 10 includes a base portion or cap portion 14 that is mountableto a vehicle door and a handle or strap portion 16 that is pivotallymounted to the door or to a second or front base portion or bracketmounted to the door. Strap portion 16 is pivotable or movable orlaterally movable relative to the door and the cap portion 14 to move anactuating lever or member or arm or bell crank or the like at capportion, which in turn moves a cable or rod or linkage or the like toactuate or release the latch mechanism of the door to open the vehicledoor. Door handle assembly 10 includes at least one illumination module18 at the cap portion 14 and/or strap portion 16 for providingillumination at or toward a recess or cup region or pocket 12 b of door12 a and for providing illumination at or toward the ground at the sideof vehicle and generally at the door handle assembly, as discussedbelow.

Door handle assembly 10 may comprise any suitable type of door handleassembly, and may include or incorporate aspects of the door handleassemblies described in U.S. Pat. Publication No. US 2006/0038418,published Feb. 23, 2006, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety. Handle or strap portion 16 includes agrasping portion 20 for a user to grab and pull at to open the vehicledoor. The handle portion 16 also includes opposite end portions 22, 24at opposite ends of the grasping portion 20. End portion 22 attaches tothe linkages of the door mechanism at cap portion 14, while end portion24 pivotally or movably or laterally movably attaches or mounts to thevehicle door or to a bracket or the like at the vehicle door. In theillustrated embodiment, end portion 24 of strap portion 16 includes anextension or arm 24 a that extends toward and partially into the doorfor engaging an actuating arm or engaging end of an actuating lever orthe like, whereby outward movement of end portion 24 imparts a movementof the actuating lever to open the vehicle door, such as in a knownmanner and/or such as described in U.S. Pat. Publication No. US2006/0038418, published Feb. 23, 2006, which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. Although shown as a strap typehandle, the handle assembly may comprise any suitable type of vehicledoor handle assembly, such as a paddle type vehicle door handle assembly(having a paddle or handle portion that is pivotable about a generallyhorizontal pivot axis to open the vehicle door, such as a handleassembly of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,349,450; 6,550,103and 6,907,643, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties) or other type of vehicle door handle assembly, whileremaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Optionally, and desirably, and as shown in FIGS. 2-4, illuminationmodule 18 may be disposed at or near end 24 of strap portion 16.Illumination module 18 includes at least one illumination source orlight source or light emitting diode (LED) that is operable to emitillumination, such as in response to a triggering or activating deviceor event. For example, the illumination source may be actuatable inresponse to at least one of a touch of the door handle, a movement ofthe strap or handle portion, actuation of a remote keyless entry module,or passive entry device, a motion detection at the vehicle, and aninsertion of a key into a keyhole at the door handle. Preferably, theillumination source is deactuatable following a period of time afteractuation of the illumination source. Optionally, the light moduleand/or illumination source or sources may have a dimming control featureor function, such that the illumination source, when activated, isramped up or progressively powered up to its full illumination state,and when deactivated, is ramped down or dimmed or progressively powereddown to its deactivated state.

The illumination source may comprise any suitable illumination source,such as one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), such as white LEDs orhigh intensity power LEDs (such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,195,381 and/or 6,690,268, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties) or organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs)or the like. The illumination source may comprise a substantially whitelight emitting illumination source, or may comprise a colored lightemitting illumination source (or a white light emitting illuminationsource may emit light that passes through a color filter or the like) toprovide color illumination (such as blue or other color as desired) atthe door handle and ground area depending on the particular applicationof the door handle assembly and illumination module. For example, theillumination module may emit or transmit colored light that may match orcorrespond to the interior and/or exterior lighting of the particularvehicle to which the door handle assembly is mounted.

In the illustrated embodiment, illumination module 18 comprises a small,self-contained module that includes a housing 26 that substantiallyencases the illumination source and circuitry of the illumination module18. The housing 26 includes an outer wall that substantially correspondsto the contours of the door handle assembly at the illumination modulesuch that the door handle assembly has a substantially continuous outersurface or wall at the illumination module. The module and housing maybe substantially sealed so as to be substantially impervious to water,dirt, debris and the like, so that the module is well suited for theexterior application at the vehicle door handle. The outer wall or wallsof the housing are substantially flush with the outer surface andcontours of the strap portion of the door handle assembly, and may becolored so as to substantially match or contrast the color of the strapportion and/or the color of the vehicle door, depending on theparticular application of the door handle assembly and illuminationmodule.

The housing 26 of illumination module 10 may be at least partially orsubstantially translucent or transparent at least at illuminationregions 26 a, 26 b such that illumination emitted via the illuminationsource or illumination sources is transmitted through housing 26 atillumination regions 26 a, 26 b and toward the vehicle door or groundarea, as discussed below. The illumination regions 26 a, 26 b may have alens or aperture thereat and within the housing 26 to direct the lightin the desired direction and in the desired manner. The illuminationregions 26 a, 26 b of housing 26 may provide a diffusing optic ordiffusing effect or frosting to diffuse or spread out the emitted lightto provide substantially uniform illumination and to limit orsubstantially preclude bright spots at the vehicle door when theillumination source is activated.

Optionally, and desirably, the housing may be overmolded over theillumination source or sources and circuitry to provide a substantiallysealed and substantially water impervious illumination module. Forexample, the housing may be overmolded over and around a metal stampingor stamped circuit element or plate with the illumination source orsources (such as LEDs or the like) fastened thereto or otherwiseestablished thereon, or the housing may be overmolded over and around aprinted circuit board or element with the illumination sourcesestablished thereon.

The illumination module preferably includes optics or apertures orelements (such as a lens or filter or other suitable optical element orthe like) at the illumination regions 26 a, 26 b to spread or diffusethe emitted light to provide substantially even or uniform lighting soas to limit hot spots or bright spots or glare at the vehicle door or atthe ground. The location and orientation of the illumination module ispreferably selected (such as at or near an end of the strap portion ofthe door handle or at the cap portion of the door handle) so that aperson's hand does not cover the illumination module when the person isgrasping the door handle to open the door, such that illumination ismaintained even when a person's hand is in the pocket region of the doorand handle assembly. The location of the illumination module is alsopreferably selected (such as at the cap portion of the door handle) sothat the ground illumination port or portion 26 b of the module issubstantially close to the vehicle door sheet metal so as to limit orsubstantially avoid hot spots or bright spots or glare at the vehicledoor, while substantially uniform or even ground illumination may beprovided or enhanced via an optical element or lens or the like of theillumination module.

Optionally, illumination module 18 may also include one or moreapertures or baffles or light guiding or directing elements at or nearthe illumination source for guiding the illumination from theillumination source and through the respective illumination region 26 a,26 b and toward the door handle region or pocket 12 b or ground area,respectively. The baffles or apertures are positioned or oriented so asto direct the illumination emitted by the illumination source in thedesired or appropriate direction so as to provide illumination at bothof the targeted areas when the illumination source is activated.Preferably, the apertures or baffles light guiding elements are orientedso as to direct the illumination generally downwardly and toward theground region and at least slightly outwardly from the vehicle to limitor substantially preclude direct illumination of the door or side of thevehicle to limit bright spots or glare at the door or side of thevehicle and generally below the door handle assembly.

Thus, the illumination module 18 comprises a single self-contained,sealed illumination module with one or more illumination sources or LEDsthat are operable to illuminate both the door handle pocket region ofthe vehicle door and the ground area at the side of the vehicle andgenerally below the door handle assembly. The illumination of the dualregions via a single illumination module (and optionally via a singleillumination source) provides a low cost illumination module that may bereadily installed or mounted at the door handle to provide the desiredillumination effect for the particular vehicle.

In the illustrated embodiment, the end 24 of the handle or strap portion16 has a cutout or recess established therein for receiving theillumination module, whereby the illumination module is formed so thatits illumination regions or portions 26 a, 26 b of housing 26 aregenerally flush with the respective exterior surfaces of the doorhandle. The surface finish of the illumination regions or portions 26 a,26 b may substantially match or correspond to the surface finish of thedoor handle so that the illumination module is not readily viewable orvisible or discernible to a person viewing the door handle when theillumination source is deactivated. The illumination module may belocated or established at or in any exterior surface or wall of the doorhandle, such as in a metallic or plastic or polymeric portion of thedoor handle. The illumination portions of the housing of theillumination module may have any desired or suitable exterior finish,such as a class A surface finish, and may be colored or finished to anydesired or suitable finish, such as a black or dark or colored finish(or the material may be black or dark or colored polymeric or metallicmaterial). Optionally, the illumination portions may have a chromefinish or brushed aluminum finish or the like, such that illumination isprovided through the chrome or brushed aluminum finished wall orstructure of the door handle assembly.

The illumination module may include one or more attachment elements orfeatures 28 for attaching the illumination module to the door handle. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the attachment elements comprise push onclips or rings that receive a mounting peg or post 30 of the door handletherethrough and frictionally engage the posts to resist orsubstantially preclude movement of the illumination module relative tothe posts once the illumination module is seated at the door handle. Theillumination module 10 may also include a wiring element or electricalconnector 32 that extends from the housing 26 for electricallyconnecting (such as via a plug or socket 32 a at the end of wires orleads 32 b) the illumination module to a power source and/or control ofthe vehicle. The terminals or wires 32 b may be electrically connectedto circuitry of the illumination module, and the housing 26 may beovermolded over the connections to substantially seal and insulate theelectrical connection of the connector to the illumination modulecircuitry. Optionally, the illumination module may include one or moreother apertures or recesses 34 to assist in mounting and/or locating theillumination module at the door handle and/or for accommodating afastener or element of the door handle, depending on the particular doorhandle assembly at which the illumination module is implemented.

The handle or strap portion (and/or optionally the cap portion) of thedoor handle assembly thus may be configured to receive theself-contained illumination module therein, such as at an opening orlike at the outer wall of the strap portion. For example, the strapportion may have a recess or pocket for receiving the module at itsexterior casing or wall. Optionally, the module may be mechanicallysecured within the pocket or opening, such as via a snap connection orfastener or the like, and may be electrically connected to a vehiclecontrol system and/or vehicle power source. Optionally, the electricalconnection and mechanical connection of the self-contained illuminationmodule may be made as the module is snapped or otherwise inserted ormounted or attached to the cap portion of the door handle assembly, suchas by utilizing aspects of the accessory modules described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,669,267; 6,969,101; 6,824,281 and/or 7,188,963, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. When snapped orotherwise secured to the door handle assembly, the exterior surface ofthe module may substantially correspond to the contours of the capportion or strap portion of the door handle assembly so as to besubstantially flush mounted at the door handle assembly to enhance theaerodynamic design of the door handle and to limit or reduce wind noiseand the like at the illumination module and door handle assembly.

Thus, the illumination module may be configured as a sealed,self-contained illumination module with a lens or optical element, suchas a simple lens, a potted design engineered lens or aperture, which maybe configured to block or limit light glare at the door surface. Theoptic elements may comprise any suitable material, such as a clearpolycarbonate, a polystyrene, an acrylic or the like, for environmentalrobustness. The physical size and shape and position of the aperturesfor the light output may be selected to provide the desired lightoutput, such as a desired intensity, diffuseness and/or direction ofillumination emanating from the illumination module when theillumination sources are activated. A texture or frosting of the lens orlenses or optical elements may also be provided to spread or diffuse thelight output of the illumination module. The illumination module mayalso include a capacitor or capacitors to limit damage fromelectro-static discharge. The illumination module also includesresistors, which are selected to ensure the same or substantially thesame net light output of the illumination sources of the illuminationmodule. The housing is overmolded over the illumination source andcircuitry of the illumination module to substantially seal the circuitrywithin the housing.

Optionally, and as shown in FIGS. 5-7, an illumination module 118 of adoor handle assembly 110 may provide illumination of the door handlepocket region, without also providing the ground illumination functionof illumination module 18, discussed above. In the illustratedembodiment, illumination module 118 includes an illumination portion orregion 126 a of a housing 126, whereby an illumination source of theillumination module has the light emitted therefrom guided and directedthrough illumination portion 126 a and toward the door handle pocket ofthe vehicle door. Such an illumination module may be otherwisesubstantially similar to illumination module 18, discussed above, suchthat a detailed discussion of the illumination modules need not berepeated herein.

Optionally, an illumination module of the present invention may bedisposed at the cap portion of a door handle assembly for providingground illumination at the side of the vehicle, while a secondillumination module may be disposed at the strap portion (such as at thefront end of the strap portion opposite the cap portion or elsewherealong the strap portion) for providing door handle cup illumination atthe handle region of the vehicle door. The illumination modules mayinclude transparent or translucent or diffuse covers or portions attheir external portions or surfaces to provide the desired lightingeffect when the illumination sources are activated. The illuminationmodules may otherwise be similar to illumination module 18, discussedabove, such that a detailed discussion of the illumination modules neednot be repeated herein.

Optionally, the door handle assembly of the present invention mayinclude a vehicle emblem or the like that is back lit by theillumination source of the illumination module (or by anotherillumination source of the door handle assembly) such that the vehicleemblem or logo or icon is visible to a person viewing the vehicle fromoutside the vehicle when the illumination source is activated, but issubstantially not viewable or discernible when the illumination sourceis deactivated. For example, the strap portion or cap portion of thedoor handle assembly may have an icon or indicia or character or thelike etched (such as via laser etching or the like) in its surface (suchas in its inner surface of the outer wall of the strap portion or capportion), such that the etched portions are at least partiallytranslucent. Thus, when the illumination source is activated, theillumination is transmitted through the translucent etched icon orindicia or logo or the like so that the icon or indicia or logo isviewable and discernible by a person viewing the vehicle door handle.Because the etchings may be established on or in or partially through aninner surface of the outer wall or portion of the strap or cap portionof the door handle assembly, the etched icon or indicia or logo issubstantially not viewable or discernible when the illumination sourceis deactivated. Optionally, an icon or indicia or logo may beestablished at another portion of the vehicle, such as at or in orpartially through a casing of an exterior mirror assembly of the vehicleor an exterior trim element or the like. Optionally, the illuminationmodule may back light the icon or indicia or logo with a generallydownwardly directed light source so that the icon or indicia or logo isprojected as a shadow onto a targeted surface, such as onto the groundadjacent to or proximate to the respective side of the vehicle, asdiscussed in detail below with respect to FIGS. 10-17.

The etched and back lit icon or indicia or logo thus may provide anaesthetically pleasing icon at the door handle assembly that isepisodically viewable when the illumination source is activated, such asin response to a touch of the door handle, a movement of the strap orhandle portion, actuation of a remote keyless entry module, a passiveentry device, a motion detection at the vehicle, and/or an insertion ofa key into a keyhole at the door handle and/or the like. The indicia orlogo may be etched or established at or in or behind or partiallythrough any exterior surface or wall of the door handle (or elsewhere onthe vehicle), such as in a metallic or plastic or polymeric portion ofthe door handle. The portion that is etched or treated or processed mayhave any desired or suitable exterior finish, such as a class A surfacefinish, and may be colored or finished to any desired or suitablefinish, such as a black or dark or colored finish (or the material maybe black or dark or colored polymeric or metallic material) or a chromefinish or brushed aluminum finish or the like.

Optionally, the illumination module may be operable to illuminate a lockcylinder (or a portion of the door handle at or near the lock cylinder)of the vehicle door or door handle assembly to assist a user inunlocking the vehicle door in low lighting conditions. Optionally, thedoor handle assembly may include an illumination source that is operableto illuminate the lock cylinder or portion of the vehicle door or doorhandle at or near the lock cylinder. The illumination source orillumination module may back light a portion of the door or door handleat or near the lock cylinder or may project or transmit illuminationtoward the lock cylinder to provide illumination at or near the lockcylinder. Such an illumination feature may be provided in response to adetection of a person or key or other identifying element approachingthe vehicle, so that the lock cylinder of the door is illuminated toassist the user in unlocking the vehicle door in low lightingconditions.

Optionally, the door handle assembly may include a lighted strip orillumination bar along the door handle to illuminate the handle of thedoor when activated. For example, and with reference to FIG. 8, a doorhandle assembly 210 includes a base portion or cap portion (not shown inFIG. 8) that is mountable to a vehicle door and a handle or strapportion 216 that is pivotally or movably or laterally movably mounted tothe door or to a second or front base portion or bracket 215 mounted tothe door. An illumination module 218 is disposed at least partiallywithin the handle or strap portion 216 so that a visible illuminationelement is disposed at or packaged on the face of the handle portion. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the illumination module provides a lightguide or light bar or strip along the handle portion, and may includeoptics and/or apertures and/or light blockers or other elements orguides that spread or diffuse and/or direct the emitted light to providesubstantially even or uniform lighting so as to limit hot spots orbright spots or glare at the door handle and/or at the vehicle doorand/or at the ground.

In the illustrated embodiment, handle portion 216 includes a chromestrip 220 (or other trim strip, such as a dark colored or accent coloredor vehicle colored plastic or metallic strip to provide a desiredappearance of the door handle) along the outer surface of the handleportion and generally surrounding the illumination source or light baror strip 218. The light strip 218 may comprise a light emitting diode ora strip of light emitting diodes for projecting/emitting illuminationtherefrom in a direction generally laterally outwardly from the doorhandle (and optionally generally downwardly to illuminate a ground areaat the side of the vehicle if desired, and such as by utilizing lightguides or baffles or guide elements or the like). Optionally, the lightstrip 218 may be disposed behind the chrome strip 220 so as to beviewable through the chrome strip 220 when the light strip is activatedbut substantially not viewable through the chrome strip when the lightstrip is deactivated (for example, the chrome strip may be partiallylight transmitting to allow for transmission of the light from the lightstrip through the chrome strip, but may be partially reflective so as toreflect light incident thereon so that the light strip is not readilyviewable and discernible through the chrome strip when the light stripis not activated).

Optionally, the light strip 218 may be disposed behind othersemi-transparent and partially light transmitting panels or layers orcovers or elements, such that the light strip may be viewable whenactivated, but substantially not viewable or discernible behind thepanel or layer or element when not activated. The partially lighttransmitting cover or panel or layer or element may be partiallyreflective or opaque or colored so as to provide an enhanced appearanceto the door handle, where the illumination module or light strip issubstantially hidden within the door handle and is viewable anddiscernible when activated or powered. The partially light transmittingcover or panel or layer or element may comprise a generally transparentor translucent element with a partially transmitting and partiallyopaque or reflective coating thereon or the element may be formed ordyed or colored with a material that allows for partial transmission oflight therethrough and yet providing an opaque or reflective appearanceat the door handle when the light strip is deactivated. Optionally, thecover material or coating may be selected to allow for transmission oflight emitted by the light strip while substantially attenuating orreflecting light having other wavelengths, such as by utilizing aspectsof the transflective mirror substrates described in U.S. Pat. No.7,274,501, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

Optionally, the door handle assembly 210 may include a capacitive sensor222 (or other sensor or sensing device) for sensing the presence of aperson at the door handle, so that the light strip 218 may be activatedin response to a detected presence (such as in response to a detectionof a person's hand at or near the door handle). Optionally, the sensormay detect the presence of a person and may recognize an authorized useror driver of the vehicle and the door may be automatically unlocked inresponse to such a detection. Optionally, the door handle assembly mayinclude a locking button or input 224 at the handle portion to allow aperson to lock the door of the vehicle by touching or activating thelocking button 224. The door handle assembly 210 and/or the illuminationmodule 218 may utilize aspects of the other door handle assembliesand/or illumination devices or modules discussed above, such that adetailed discussion of the door handle assemblies and/or illuminationdevices or modules need not be repeated herein.

When utilizing a light bar on the surface of a handle, such as shown inFIG. 8, the location is on the Class A surface of the door handle andthe person's hand may partially cover the light source during entry.However, the illumination may be provided as the person approaches thevehicle and before grasping the door handle so that the benefits of theillumination at the door handle are achieved before the person graspsthe door handle to open the vehicle door. The illumination module ordevice may be activated by a passive entry system or tied into thevehicle's electrical structure to activate the illumination module ofthe door handle. Optionally, the light bar and/or the metallic strip maybe provided in various colors that may be selected for the particularapplication and may be coupled with other exterior lighting schemes ortrim color schemes to maintain a consistent lighting/trim theme for thevehicle.

Optionally, a light module may be disposed at or incorporated in or atan interior door handle assembly of a vehicle, in accordance with thepresent invention. For example, and with reference to FIG. 9, aninterior door handle assembly or module 310 is mountable at an interiorportion or trim panel of a vehicle door and includes a base portion 314that is mountable at or in a vehicle door and a handle portion 316 thatis pivotally or movably or laterally movably mounted to the baseportion. In the illustrated embodiment, the interior door handleassembly 310 includes a handle illumination module 318 disposed at leastpartially within the handle portion 316 and/or a base illuminationmodule 319 disposed at a pocket region of the base portion 314. Thehandle illumination module 318 provides illumination along the handleportion, while the base illumination module 319 may provide illuminationat the pocket region of the base portion to provide illumination atand/or around the handle portion to assist a user in recognizing thehandle portion and grasping the handle portion to open the vehicle doorfrom the inside of the vehicle. Optionally, the handle illuminationmodule and/or the base illumination module may include optics and/orapertures and/or light blockers or other elements or guides that spreador diffuse and/or direct the emitted light to provide substantially evenor uniform lighting so as to limit hot spots or bright spots or glare atthe door handle and/or at the vehicle door and/or at the walls or floorof the vehicle cabin.

Optionally, the interior door handle assembly 310 may include a sensoror sensing device or element 322 (such as a capacitive sensor or thelike) for detecting or sensing the presence of a person's hand at ornear the handle portion (such as a person's hand that is feeling for theinterior door handle as may be done in dark or low lighting conditions).The illumination source or module 318 and/or 319 may be activated inresponse to a detection of the presence of a person's hand at or nearthe door handle assembly to assist the user in locating the door handleto open the vehicle door. Thus, a person within the vehicle cabin maywave their hand along the interior panel of the vehicle door and nearthe door handle, whereby the illumination source or sources may beautomatically activated or energized to generally illuminate the doorhandle or area or region at which the door handle is located, so thatthe user may readily view and discern the door handle and may then graspthe door handle to open the vehicle door.

Optionally, and desirably, the capacitive sensor that activates thelighting may be tied into or interconnected with or in communicationwith a vehicle controller or park switch or sensor or the like, so thatwhen the driver places the vehicle in park (or out of a driving gearand/or reverse gear), the sensor becomes active and may trigger thelighting (either in response to a detection of the presence of aperson's hand or in response to the vehicle being shifted into park).Likewise, when the vehicle is shifted out of park (such as into adriving gear or reverse gear or the like), the sensor becomes inactiveand will not trigger the lighting even when a person's hand is at thedoor handle. This feature may be provided so that the sensor is notactive when the vehicle is in a driving gear so that the handle will notbe illuminated during driving of the vehicle, such as if someone leansagainst the door and triggers the light. Optionally, the sensor and/orlighting of the interior door handle may further be activated inresponse to an ambient light level so that the illumination is providedin darkened conditions, such as nighttime, but is not provided duringhigher lighting conditions, such as daytime conditions and the like.

Thus, the interior door handle assembly or module of the presentinvention provides a door handle assembly that has an illuminationmodule or device for providing light at the door handle pocket forinterior lighting inside the vehicle. The interior door handle assemblyincludes a base portion mountable to the vehicle door and a handleportion that is movably or pivotally mountable to the vehicle doorpanel. The door or interior panel or trim panel may define a pocket orrecessed portion at its inside and generally at the door handle area toprovide clearance for a person to grasp the handle portion at thevehicle door for opening the door of the vehicle to exit. The doorhandle assembly includes an illumination module that is operable (suchas in response to actuation of a remote keyless entry device or apassive entry device or other activating event, such as a user insertinga key into a keyhole at the door or door handle or the like) to provideillumination generally toward the inside of the vehicle and generally atthe door handle area and to provide illumination at the pocket at thevehicle door, so as to provide enhanced illumination at the vehicle'sinner door panel.

The illumination source or light source or LED may be mounted into thecase or strap of the door handle, and may be activated in response to acapacitive sensor (such as a sensor mounted into the handle or case ofthe door handle) detecting the presence of a person's hand at or nearthe door handle. The lighting module may consist of an LED with anoptical lens (or other light guiding element or device) to control thelight output in a directed source or area. The LED driver and circuitboard of the illumination device or module may be coupled with a lightbar mounted into the handle or case of the door handle assembly.Optionally, various color of LEDs (or other suitable lighting elementsor devices) may be utilized in concert with other interior lights of thevehicle to maintain the same color (or to provide a desired contrast orcolor scheme) throughout the interior of the vehicle. The interior doorhandle assembly 310 and/or the illumination module/modules 318, 319 mayutilize aspects of the exterior door handle assemblies and/orillumination devices or modules discussed above, such that a detaileddiscussion of the door handle assemblies and/or illumination devices ormodules need not be repeated herein.

Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 10-12, an exterior door handleassembly 410 includes an illumination module 418 that is operable toilluminate the ground adjacent to or proximate to the side of thevehicle at which the door handle assembly 410 is located and that mayalso be operable to illuminate the pocket region or a portion of thedoor handle, such as in a similar manner as discussed above. In theillustrated embodiment, illumination module 418 is disposed at a forwardend of the strap portion 416 of handle assembly, and may be disposed sothat a downwardly directed portion may project or direct illuminationgenerally downward and along the vehicle door to illuminate the groundarea, while a rearwardly directed portion may project or directillumination generally toward the door handle pocket at the exteriorportion of the vehicle door.

As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 10-12, illumination module 418includes a body or casing or housing 426 that houses illuminationsources or LEDs or the like and that includes one or more optics orlenses through which the illumination is transmitted. In the illustratedembodiment, and as best shown in FIG. 12, housing 426 may comprise twohalves 426 a, 426 b that cooperate to define or form a passageway ortube 426 c and a pair of ground illumination portions 426 d and a pocketillumination arm or portion 426 e. The housing is mounted in the doorhandle so that the outer portions of the tube 426 c and groundillumination portions 426 d are generally coplanar with the lowersurface of the door handle while the outer surface or portion of thepocket illumination arm or portion 426 e is generally coplanar with thecorresponding surface of the door handle. Optionally, the housing 426may include one or more raised ribs or protrusions or rings to assist inmounting or securing or retaining the illumination module at and withinthe door handle.

The pocket illumination portion 426 e houses a pocket illuminationsource or LED 440 a (FIG. 12), which may be disposed at a circuitelement or circuit board 441 a or otherwise electrically connected tocircuitry associated with power and/or control of the illuminationsource, and a pocket lens or optic 442 a that are disposed at or withina passageway of the pocket illumination portion 426 e. When activated,pocket illumination source 440 a emits light through pocket lens 442 aand into or toward the pocket at the vehicle door. The lens may comprisea clear or translucent lens or optic that may diffuse the light at thepocket so that the illumination module may provide a soft glow orsubstantially uniform illumination at the door handle pocket, such as ina similar manner as discussed above.

The ground illumination portions 426 d each houses a ground illuminationsource or LED 440 b, which may be disposed at a circuit element orcircuit board 441 b or otherwise electrically connected to circuitryassociated with power and/or control of the illumination source. Anouter lens 444 may be disposed at the lower or outer end of the housing426 to provide an outer casing or panel at the door handle. Outer lens444 may comprise a substantially transparent or translucent lens oroptic through which illumination from illumination source 440 b istransmitted. Illumination module 418 may also include a lens or optic442 b, such as a diffuser optic or the like, between illumination source440 b and outer lens 444 for diffusing or spreading out the illuminationthat is projected generally downwardly from illumination module 418.

The illumination module 418 may also be operable to back light an iconor indicia or logo and to project the icon or indicia or logo or shadowthereof downward so that a person at the side of the vehicle may view,when the illumination module is activated, the icon or indicia or logoor shadow thereof at the ground adjacent to or proximate the side of thevehicle. The icon or indicia or logo is established at or as a maskingelement or mask, with the mask comprising a light transmitting portionin the form of the icon or indicia or logo (such as by having a darkenedportion in the form of the icon or by having a substantially transparentportion in the form of the icon). Thus, light emitted by the lightsource, when the light source is activated or powered, passes throughthe mask and out of the illumination module to illuminate the groundgenerally below the illumination module (or other targeted area orregion generally proximate the illumination module). The illumination ofthe ground or targeted area follows the form of the mask such that thelogo is reproduced via lighted and less lighted regions of the groundportion illuminated. Thus, a person viewing the illuminated groundportion or targeted area can discern the back lit icon or indicia orlogo of the mask.

In the illustrated embodiment, illumination module 418 includes an iconillumination source or LED 440 c, which may be disposed at a circuitelement or circuit board 441 c or otherwise electrically connected tocircuitry associated with power and/or control of the illuminationsource, a focal lens or optic 442 c and a second lens or icon optic 446with the icon or indicia or logo or emblem established thereat. The iconillumination source 440 c, focal lens 442 c and icon optic 446 aredisposed within tube portion 426 c of housing 426 and cooperate todefine an optic path between the icon illumination source and the iconoptic so that illumination emitted by illumination source 440 c, whenactivated, is directed along tube portion 426 c and focused at iconoptic 446 by focal lens 442 c, whereby the illumination that transmitsthrough icon optic 446 is directed further downward through outer lens444 and toward the ground adjacent to or proximate the side of thevehicle. Thus, a person approaching or standing at the side of thevehicle may view (when the illumination module is activated, such as inresponse to a passive entry system or the like) the icon or logo orindicia at the ground by the vehicle. The icon may be formed bydarkening a portion of the icon optic (whereby the icon may appear as ashadow surrounded by illumination) or by darkening the area of the iconoptic surrounding the icon shape (whereby the illumination on the groundor targeted area is in the shape of the icon). Optionally, theillumination module may be configured to direct the icon image towardother targeted regions or areas, such as toward the surface of thevehicle door to provide the icon or indicia or logo at the vehicle door(and optionally the icon established at the icon optic may beestablished or formed to accommodate for the angle at which the icon isdirected toward the door to reduce distortion of the icon when it isdisplayed at or projected onto the door).

Thus, the illumination module includes optics or apertures or elements(such as a lens or filter or other suitable optical element or the like)at the outer ends of the pocket illumination portion and the downwardillumination portion to spread or diffuse the emitted light to providesubstantially even or uniform lighting so as to limit hot spots orbright spots or glare at the vehicle door or at the ground. In theillustrated embodiment, the lower lens or optic 444 comprises a unitaryoptic for the ground illumination portions and the icon backlightingportion of the illumination module. Because the lower lens or optic thusmay be substantially transparent or translucent or clear so as to notoverly diffuse the icon image, the module may include a diffusing opticat each of the ground illumination portions to achieve the diffuse orspread out illumination at the ground by the vehicle.

The location and orientation of the illumination module is preferablyselected (such as at or near an end of the strap portion of the doorhandle or at the cap portion of the door handle) so that a person's handdoes not cover the illumination module when the person is grasping thedoor handle to open the door, such that illumination is maintained evenwhen a person's hand is in the pocket region of the door and handleassembly. The location of the illumination module is also preferablyselected (such as at the cap portion of the door handle) so that theground illumination port or portion of the module is substantially closeto the vehicle door sheet metal so as to limit or substantially avoidhot spots or bright spots or glare at the vehicle door, whilesubstantially uniform or even ground illumination may be provided orenhanced via an optical element or lens or the like of the illuminationmodule. The illumination module may be operable to provide illuminationat the door handle pocket and/or at the ground area proximate the sideof the vehicle in response to a user input or detection of a key fob orother device or in response to other activating means, such as describedabove. Illumination module 418 thus may function in a similar manner asthe illumination modules discussed above, such that a detaileddiscussion of the illumination modules need not be repeated herein.

Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 13-17, an exterior mirrorassembly 510 of a vehicle may include an illumination module 518 that isoperable to back light an icon or indicia or logo to project an image ofthe icon or indicia or logo generally downward so as to be viewable atthe ground adjacent the side of the vehicle, such as in a similar manneras described above. Illumination module 518 may be disposed at anysuitable location at or near the lower side or portion of the mirrorassembly, such as at an outboard region of the lower portion 512 a ofthe mirror casing 512, such as shown in FIGS. 13-15.

In the illustrated embodiment, illumination module 518 comprises agenerally cylindrical shaped module that is mounted at the lower portion512 a of mirror casing 512 (such as by being at least partially receivedin an aperture or opening 512 b of mirror casing 512) with its lowersurface or lens element 544 being located generally flush with the lowersurface of the mirror casing 512 so that illumination module 518 is notreadily viewable by a person viewing the mirror assembly at the side ofthe vehicle. As shown in FIG. 15, illumination module 518 may protrudeinto the cavity of the mirror casing 512 and may be disposed behind thereflective element 514 (not shown in FIG. 15), where electricalconnection to the illumination module may be readily made via a wire orlead within the mirror casing.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, illumination module 518 includes a body orcasing or housing 526 that houses one or more illumination sources orLEDs or the like and that includes one or more optics or lenses throughwhich the illumination is transmitted. In the illustrated embodiment,and as best shown in FIG. 17, housing 526 may comprise two halves 526 a,526 b that cooperate to define or form a passageway or tube. The housingis mounted in the mirror assembly 510 so that the outer or lower endportion of the housing and the outer lens or optic are generallycoplanar with the lower surface of the mirror assembly. Optionally, thehousing 526 may include one or more raised ribs or protrusions or rings526 c to assist in mounting or securing or retaining the illuminationmodule at and within the exterior mirror assembly.

The illumination module 518 is operable to back light an icon or indiciaor logo and to project the icon or indicia or logo or shadow thereofdownward so that a person at the side of the vehicle may view, when theillumination module is activated, the icon or indicia or logo or shadowthereof at the ground adjacent to or proximate the side of the vehicle.In the illustrated embodiment, illumination module 518 includes an iconillumination source or LED 540, a focal lens or optic 542 and a secondlens or icon optic 546 with the icon or indicia or logo or emblemestablished thereat. The icon illumination source 540, focal lens 542and icon optic 546 are disposed within housing 526 so that illuminationemitted by illumination source 540, when activated, is directed alongthe passageway of the housing and focused at icon optic 546 by focallens 542, whereby the illumination that transmits through icon optic 546is directed further downward through the lower or outer lens 544 andtoward the ground adjacent to or proximate the side of the vehicle.Thus, a person approaching or standing at the side of the vehicle mayview (when the illumination module is activated) the icon or logo orindicia at the ground by the vehicle.

As can be seen in FIG. 17, the icon or indicia or logo may beestablished at or on a substantially transparent or translucent lens oroptic, such that the illumination from icon illumination source 540passes through the optic 546 and through the outer or lower lens 544 andtoward the ground so as to provide ground illumination at the side ofthe vehicle and to provide a shadow image of the icon or indicia orlogo. Thus, the illumination module 518 provides ground illumination atthe side of the vehicle, while also providing an enhanced unique orcustomized appearance of the ground illumination to a person viewing theilluminated area at the side of the vehicle.

Illumination module 518 may function in a similar manner as theillumination modules discussed above, such that a detailed discussion ofthe illumination modules need not be repeated herein. Optionally, theillumination module may be configured to direct the icon image towardother targeted regions or areas, such as toward the surface of thevehicle door or side of the vehicle to provide the icon or indicia orlogo at the vehicle door or side panel of the vehicle (and optionallythe icon established at the icon optic may be established or formed toaccommodate for the angle at which the icon is directed toward the dooror side of the vehicle to reduce distortion of the icon when it isdisplayed at or projected onto the door or side panel of the vehicle).Optionally, the illumination module may be located at other portions ofthe vehicle, such as, for example, at an interior portion of thevehicle, such as at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle,where the illumination module may direct illumination through an iconoptic toward an interior surface of the vehicle, such as toward thedashboard or instrument panel or seat area of the vehicle, such as in asimilar manner as described above.

Thus, the illumination modules may provide a back lit icon or indicia orlogo or emblem to provide enhanced ground illumination at the side of avehicle. The icon or indicia or logo or emblem may comprise the vehiclemanufacturer logo or the like, or may comprise a selected icon orindicia or logo, such as may be selected by the owner of the vehicle.For example, the owner of the vehicle may select a module having adesired icon or indicia or logo element or optic and the selectedillumination module may be installed in the vehicle door handle and/ormirror assembly (or elsewhere on the vehicle, such as at or on or in thevehicle door or at or on or in a side panel of the vehicle or the like)to provide the customized or personalized ground illumination function.Such a selection and installation of the illumination module may beperformed during manufacturing of the vehicle or as an aftermarketchange to the vehicle. The icon illumination module thus may provide apersonalized or customized illumination at the side of the vehicle, suchas by utilizing aspects of the systems and assemblies described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 7,255,451 and/or 7,289,037, and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/912,576, filed Oct. 25, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,626,749,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the illumination module and/or the exterior rearview mirrorassembly may incorporate a blind spot indicator device or element and/ora turn signal indicator device or element, such as by utilizing aspectsof the devices described in U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No.61/031,869, filed Feb. 7, 2008; Ser. No. 61/022,450, filed Jan. 21,2008; Ser. No. 60/954,953, filed Aug. 9, 2007; Ser. No. 60/985,446,filed Nov. 5, 2007; Ser. No. 61/019,478, filed Jan. 7, 2008; Ser. No.60/853,850, filed Oct. 24, 2006; Ser. No. 60/918,089, filed Mar. 15,2007; and/or Ser. No. 60/970,687, filed Sep. 7, 2007, and/or U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,198,409; 5,929,786 and 5,786,772, and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/994,471, filed Jan. 2, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,492,281,and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US07/82099, filed Oct. 22, 2007, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Thesignal indicator or indication module may include or utilize aspects ofvarious light modules or systems or devices, such as the types describedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,227,689; 6,582,109; 5,371,659; 5,497,306; 5,669,699;5,823,654; 6,176,602 and/or 6,276,821, and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/520,193, filed Sep. 13, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,581,859,and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/018567, filed May 16, 2006 andpublished Nov. 23, 2006 as International Publication No. WO 2006/124682,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.Optionally, the exterior rearview mirror assembly may include a wideangle reflector at or integral with the reflective element, such as byutilizing aspects of the elements described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,255,451;7,195,381; 6,717,712; 7,126,456; 6,315,419; 7,097,312 and/or 6,522,451,and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 61/031,869, filed Feb. 7,2008; Ser. No. 61/022,450, filed Jan. 21, 2008; Ser. No. 60/954,953,filed Aug. 9, 2007; and/or Ser. No. 60/939,753, filed May 23, 2007,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19, an exterior rearviewmirror assembly 610 may include a cornering light module or assembly 618to provide illumination generally forwardly and sidewardly of thevehicle to provide enhanced illumination during turning maneuvers of thevehicle. For example, cornering light module 618 may include one or moreillumination sources 619 at a circuit element 621 (such as a printedcircuit board or the like), which is disposed at a back plate 623 andencased within a housing having a lens or optic 625. The side lightingfunctions to improve the vision of the driver of the vehicle whenturning the around a corner or curve in the road. The cornering lightmodule may operate in conjunction with the respective turn signal so asto be activated when the turn signal at that side of the vehicle isactivated. The light module may provide a constant illumination at theside of the vehicle while the turn signal flashes. The cornering lightmodule may comprise any suitable illumination source or sources, suchas, for example, one or more LEDs, one or more light bulbs, a light pipeand/or the like. Although shown and described as being disposed at theexterior mirror assembly, it is envisioned that the cornering lightmodule may be mounted at any suitable location at the vehicle, such asat or within the door handle assembly.

Thus, the cornering light module may provide substantially constantillumination that is projected outward, such as in response toactivation of the turn signal by the driver of the vehicle. Optionally,the cornering light module may provide a sideward illumination inresponse to the high beams of the vehicle being activated, in order toprovide additional lighting of the road or shoulder sidewardly of thevehicle and rearward of the area encompassed by the front headlightswhen in their high beam state. In such an application, the sidewardlighting function may be deactivated when the headlights are in theirlow beam state.

Optionally, the illumination module may provide an active corneringlight for curved or winding roads, such as by using a cluster of lightsand/or an alignment of lights that are tied to the steering controls ofthe vehicle. Thus, the lights (such as a row of lights with some of thelights illuminating further sidewardly than some of the other lights)may illuminate in a progressively outward direction depending on theposition or steering angle of the steering wheel or front wheels/tiresof the vehicle, and then the lights may progressively deactivate in theopposite direction as the steering wheel and/or wheels/tires are turnedback to a center or straight orientation. Thus, the lights mayilluminate a greater sideward area in response to a detection of thevehicle undergoing a sharper turn so as to enhance the viewing by thedriver of the area to the side of the vehicle and toward where thevehicle is being steered, while limiting sideward illumination when thevehicle is being driven in a generally straight or slightly curved path.

Optionally, the illumination module may also comprise a groundillumination light or puddle lamp, which provides downwardly directedillumination (and which may provide a back lit icon or indicia or logoor the like), such as described above. Optionally, the illuminationmodule may comprise a cornering light and a puddle lamp and turn signallight, and may have a wrap-around style turn signal at the exteriormirror that may be fitted with a prism lens or the like to project lightin the appropriate direction and/or toward the targeted location. Theillumination module thus may include one or more illumination sourcesand one or more lenses or optics or light pipes or the like todistribute or direct illumination toward the appropriate targeted areas.

Therefore, the present invention provides an illumination module at avehicle door handle or exterior rearview mirror assembly forilluminating the door handle region or cup region of the vehicle doorand/or the ground area at or adjacent to or proximate the side of thevehicle and generally below the vehicle door handle assembly or mirrorassembly. The illumination source may thus be temporarily activated as aperson approaches or contacts the handle to ease grasping of the handleand thus opening of the door in nighttime conditions. The illuminationsources may illuminate the handle region or cup region of the door, andmay provide ground illumination of the area by the vehicle, similar tosafety illumination sources such as the types described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,371,659, 5,669,699, 5,823,654 and 5,497,305, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. When activated,the illumination source preferably draws a low or minimal amount ofenergy from a power source, such as a vehicle battery (not shown) or thelike, such that the battery or power source is not overly drained duringthe period of time that the illumination source is activated.

Optionally, the door handle assembly or mirror assembly or illuminationmodule may include or may be associated with an antenna for receivingsignals from or communicating with a remote device. For example, theantenna (such as, for example, an antenna of the types described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,977,619, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference inits entirety) may communicate a signal to the door locking system via awire connection or the like, or wirelessly, such as via a radiofrequency signal or via an infrared signal or via other wirelesssignaling means. Such connections can include cables, wires, fiber opticcables or the like. The communication to the locking system may be via avehicle bus or multiplex system, such as a LIN (Local InterconnectNetwork) or CAN (Car or Controlled Area Network) system, such asdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,291,905; 6,396,408 and/or 6,477,464, whichare all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Thevehicle door may then be unlocked and/or the illumination source orsources may be activated as a person carrying a remote signaling deviceapproaches the door handle. Optionally, other systems may be activatedin response to the remote signaling device, such as vehicle lightingsystems, such as interior lights, security lights or the like (such assecurity lights of the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,280,069;6,276,821; 6,176,602; 6,152,590; 6,149,287; 6,139,172; 6,086,229;5,938,321; 5,671,996; 5,497,305; 6,416,208 and/or 6,568,839, all ofwhich are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties),or the vehicle ignition, or any other desired system, while remainingwithin the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Optionally, the door handle assembly of the present invention mayinclude a soft touch handle portion, such as utilizing the principlesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,349,450; 6,550,103 and 6,907,643, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.Optionally, the door handle assembly may include an antenna or the like,such as for sensing or transmitting signals, such as described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,977,619, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. An exterior door handleassembly configured for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicledoor of a vehicle, said exterior door handle assembly comprising: ahandle portion movable to open a vehicle door of a vehicle at which saidexterior door handle assembly is mounted, wherein said handle portionhas a length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein said lengthdimension is oriented horizontal with respect to ground and said widthdimension is oriented vertical with respect to ground when said exteriordoor handle assembly is normally mounted at the door handle region ofthe vehicle door, and wherein said length dimension is greater than saidwidth dimension; an illumination module, said illumination modulecomprising at least one illumination source that, when electricallypowered, emits light; wherein said illumination module comprises a lightguide; wherein, with said illumination module disposed at said handleportion, said light guide extends at least partially along said lengthdimension of said handle portion; wherein, when said exterior doorhandle assembly is normally mounted at the door handle region of thevehicle door of the vehicle and when said at least one illuminationsource is electrically powered, said light guide is illuminated andillumination of the illuminated light guide is viewable at leastpartially along said length dimension of said handle portion by a personviewing said handle portion of said exterior door handle assembly fromoutside the vehicle; wherein said exterior door handle assemblycomprises an emblem or icon that is back lit by light emitted by aback-lighting illumination source of said exterior door handle assembly;and wherein, when said exterior door handle assembly is normally mountedat the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, the emblemor icon is visible to the person viewing from outside the vehicle whenback lit by light emitted by the back-lighting illumination source ofsaid exterior door handle assembly but is covert when not back lit bylight emitted by the back-lighting illumination source of said exteriordoor handle assembly.
 2. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1,wherein said at least one illumination source comprises theback-lighting illumination source.
 3. The exterior door handle assemblyof claim 1, comprising an at least partially light transmitting coverelement disposed at least partially along said length dimension of saidhandle portion, wherein, when said at least one illumination source iselectrically powered, illumination of the illuminated light guide isviewable through said cover element by the person viewing said handleportion of said exterior door handle assembly from outside the vehicle.4. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 3, wherein said coverelement extends along said length dimension of said handle portion. 5.The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the emblem or iconcomprises a vehicle emblem.
 6. The exterior door handle assembly ofclaim 1, wherein, when said at least one illumination source is notelectrically powered, said light guide is covert to the person viewingsaid handle portion of said exterior door handle assembly from outsidethe vehicle.
 7. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, whereinsaid at least one illumination source comprises at least one lightemitting diode.
 8. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, whereinsaid at least one illumination source comprises a plurality of lightemitting diodes.
 9. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1,wherein, when said exterior door handle assembly is normally mounted atthe door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, said at leastone illumination source of said illumination module is electricallypowerable responsive to wireless transmission from a remote transmitter.10. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein, when said atleast one illumination source is electrically powered, said illuminationmodule provides diffuse illumination.
 11. The exterior door handleassembly of claim 1, wherein said illumination module comprises at leastone optic element for directing light emitted by said at least oneillumination source along said light guide at said handle portion ofsaid exterior door handle assembly.
 12. The exterior door handleassembly of claim 1, wherein, when said at least one illumination sourceis electrically powered, uniform lighting is emitted from said lightguide.
 13. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein, whensaid at least one illumination source is electrically powered, saidillumination module illuminates a portion of the side of the vehicledoor at which said exterior door handle assembly is mounted.
 14. Theexterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein, when said at leastone illumination source is electrically powered, a ground area proximatethe side of the vehicle door at which said exterior door handle assemblyis mounted is illuminated.
 15. The exterior door handle assembly ofclaim 1, comprising a sensor for sensing presence of a person at saidexterior door handle assembly when said exterior door handle assembly isnormally mounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of thevehicle, wherein, responsive to said sensor sensing the presence of aperson at said exterior door handle assembly, said at least oneillumination source of said illumination module is electrically poweredto illuminate said light guide at said handle portion of said exteriordoor handle assembly.
 16. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 15,wherein said sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.
 17. The exterior doorhandle assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicle door is unlockedresponsive to presence of a person at said exterior door handleassembly.
 18. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein saidillumination module is impervious to water.
 19. An exterior door handleassembly configured for mounting at a door handle region of a vehicledoor of a vehicle, said exterior door handle assembly comprising: ahandle portion movable to open a vehicle door of a vehicle at which saidexterior door handle assembly is mounted, wherein said handle portionhas a length dimension and a width dimension, and wherein said lengthdimension is oriented horizontal with respect to ground and said widthdimension is oriented vertical with respect to ground when said exteriordoor handle assembly is normally mounted at the door handle region ofthe vehicle door, and wherein said length dimension is greater than saidwidth dimension; an illumination module, said illumination modulecomprising at least one illumination source that, when electricallypowered, emits light; wherein said at least one illumination sourcecomprises at least one light emitting diode; wherein said illuminationmodule comprises a light guide; wherein, with said illumination moduledisposed at said handle portion, said light guide extends at leastpartially along said length dimension of said handle portion; wherein,when said exterior door handle assembly is normally mounted at the doorhandle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle and when said at leastone illumination source is electrically powered, said light guide isilluminated and illumination of the illuminated light guide is viewableat least partially along said length dimension of said handle portion bya person viewing said handle portion of said exterior door handleassembly from outside the vehicle; an at least partially lighttransmitting cover element disposed at least partially along said lengthdimension of said handle portion; wherein, when said at least oneillumination source is electrically powered, illumination of theilluminated light guide is viewable through said cover element by theperson viewing said handle portion of said exterior door handle assemblyfrom outside the vehicle; and wherein, when said at least oneillumination source is not electrically powered, said light guide iscovert to the person viewing said handle portion of said exterior doorhandle assembly from outside the vehicle.
 20. The exterior door handleassembly of claim 19, wherein, when said at least one illuminationsource is electrically powered, said illumination module illuminates aportion of the side of the vehicle door at which said exterior doorhandle assembly is mounted.
 21. The exterior door handle assembly ofclaim 19, wherein, when said at least one illumination source iselectrically powered, a ground area proximate the side of the vehicledoor at which said exterior door handle assembly is mounted isilluminated.
 22. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 19, whereinsaid illumination module is impervious to water.
 23. The exterior doorhandle assembly of claim 22, wherein said at least one illuminationsource comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.
 24. The exteriordoor handle assembly of claim 22, wherein, when said at least oneillumination source is electrically powered, said illumination moduleprovides diffuse illumination.
 25. The exterior door handle assembly ofclaim 24, wherein, when said at least one illumination source iselectrically powered, uniform lighting is emitted from said light guide.26. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 22, wherein said exteriordoor handle assembly comprises a vehicle emblem that is back lit bylight emitted by a back-lighting illumination source of said exteriordoor handle assembly, and wherein, when said exterior door handleassembly is normally mounted at the door handle region of the vehicledoor of the vehicle, the vehicle emblem is visible to the person viewingfrom outside the vehicle when back lit by light emitted by theback-lighting illumination source of said exterior door handle assemblybut is covert when not back lit by light emitted by the back-lightingillumination source of said exterior door handle assembly.
 27. Theexterior door handle assembly of claim 22, comprising a sensor forsensing presence of a person at said exterior door handle assembly whensaid exterior door handle assembly is normally mounted at the doorhandle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, wherein, responsive tosaid sensor sensing the presence of a person at said exterior doorhandle assembly, said at least one illumination source of saidillumination module is electrically powered to illuminate said lightguide at said handle portion of said exterior door handle assembly. 28.An exterior door handle assembly configured for mounting at a doorhandle region of a vehicle door of a vehicle, said exterior door handleassembly comprising: a handle portion movable to open a vehicle door ofa vehicle at which said exterior door handle assembly is mounted,wherein said handle portion has a length dimension and a widthdimension, and wherein said length dimension is oriented horizontal withrespect to ground and said width dimension is oriented vertical withrespect to ground when said exterior door handle assembly is normallymounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door, and wherein saidlength dimension is greater than said width dimension; an illuminationmodule, said illumination module comprising at least one illuminationsource that, when electrically powered, emits light; wherein said atleast one illumination source comprises at least one light emittingdiode; wherein said illumination module comprises a light guide; whereinsaid illumination module is impervious to water; wherein, with saidillumination module disposed at said handle portion, said light guideextends at least partially along said length dimension of said handleportion; wherein, when said exterior door handle assembly is normallymounted at the door handle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle andwhen said at least one illumination source is electrically powered, saidlight guide is illuminated and illumination of the illuminated lightguide is viewable at least partially along said length dimension of saidhandle portion by a person viewing said handle portion of said exteriordoor handle assembly from outside the vehicle; an at least partiallylight transmitting cover element disposed at least partially along saidlength dimension of said handle portion; wherein, when said at least oneillumination source is electrically powered, illumination of theilluminated light guide is viewable through said cover element by theperson viewing said handle portion of said exterior door handle assemblyfrom outside the vehicle; wherein, when said at least one illuminationsource is not electrically powered, said light guide is covert to theperson viewing said handle portion of said exterior door handle assemblyfrom outside the vehicle; wherein, when said at least one illuminationsource is electrically powered, said illumination module providesdiffuse illumination; wherein, when said at least one illuminationsource is electrically powered, uniform lighting is emitted from saidlight guide; and wherein, when said at least one illumination source iselectrically powered, said illumination module illuminates a portion ofthe side of the vehicle door at which said exterior door handle assemblyis mounted.
 29. The exterior door handle assembly of claim 28, wherein,when said at least one illumination source is electrically powered, aground area proximate the side of the vehicle door at which saidexterior door handle assembly is mounted is illuminated.
 30. Theexterior door handle assembly of claim 29, wherein said at least oneillumination source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes. 31.The exterior door handle assembly of claim 30, wherein said exteriordoor handle assembly comprises a vehicle emblem that is back lit bylight emitted by a back-lighting illumination source of said exteriordoor handle assembly, and wherein, when said exterior door handleassembly is normally mounted at the door handle region of the vehicledoor of the vehicle, the vehicle emblem is visible to the person viewingfrom outside the vehicle when back lit by light emitted by theback-lighting illumination source of said exterior door handle assemblybut is covert when not back lit by light emitted by the back-lightingillumination source of said exterior door handle assembly.
 32. Theexterior door handle assembly of claim 29, comprising a sensor forsensing presence of a person at said exterior door handle assembly whensaid exterior door handle assembly is normally mounted at the doorhandle region of the vehicle door of the vehicle, wherein, responsive tosaid sensor sensing the presence of a person at said exterior doorhandle assembly, said at least one illumination source of saidillumination module is electrically powered to illuminate said lightguide at said handle portion of said exterior door handle assembly.